First print industry ambassador for Western Australia

A young graphic prepress operator in Western Australia has been chosen as the first printing industries representative in the Ambassadors Program 2009.

21-year-old Natasha Hesson (pictured) recently completed a graphic arts (graphic prepress) apprenticeship with Central TAFE and worked with Printing Industries member company Express Print in Bunbury.

Such was her dedication to learning that Hesson completed her apprenticeship 12 months early, earning her a place in the Ambassadors Program, a joint initiative between the Western Australian Department of Education and Training and Future Now – the Creative and Leisure Industries Training Council, to promote traineeships and apprenticeships in Western Australia.

Hesson said her apprenticeship was well worth the effort. “You have something different every day. It’s not like you do just the one thing all the time,” she said.
 
“You learn, earn money, gain experience in the workplace and get a qualification at the end of it. It's not like you have been stuck in an environment where you only learn the basics, you put it into practice.”

Printing Industries Western Australian general manager, Paul Nieuwhof, labelled Hesson as an “outstanding role model”. “Her  achievements led to her being selected as the printing industries first Ambassador to inspire and showcase industry career opportunities to other young people considering their career options,” he said.

Printing Industries CEO Philip Andersen said Hesson was an excellent example not just for those in Western Australia but to all young people around the country as to what they can achieve. “I commend her for her efforts and congratulate Express Print for providing the excellent environment for her to achieve her goals in,” he said.

Natasha‘s video profile has been included on the Department of Education and Training website along with 48 Ambassadors across all industries in Western Australia and can be viewed here.